Automatic coal-cage



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. W. DAVIDSON.

, AUTOMATIC GOAL GAGE. No. 443,430. Patented Dec. 23,1890.

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(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 2.

A. W. DAVIDSON. AUTOMATIC GOAL GAGE.

No. 443,480. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. w. DAVIDSON. AUTOMATIC COAL GAGE.

No. 443,430. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. A. W. DAVIDSON. AUTOMATIC GOAL GAGE.

N0. 443,430.- Patented Dec. 28, 1890.

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no 0... S 5 E H 1 vice for operating the catches.

UNITE STATES 7 PATENT 7 OFFICE.

ABNER \V. DAVIDSON, OF LEAVEKIVOR'ITII, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC COAL-CAG E.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,430, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed April 2, 1890.

Serial No. 246,285. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER W. DAVIDSON, of Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Automatic Coal-Cages, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic coal-cages; and my invention consis'ts in features of novelty hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is an elevation of my improved device, showing portions of the same in section. Fig. II is a side elevation of the same. Fig. III is a transverse section taken on line III III, Fig. II, showing the device for retaining the car in its position on the cage. Fig. IV is an enlarged detail horizontal view showing the tops of the safety-catches. Fig. V is an enlarged detail verticalsection showing a side view of the safety-catches. Fig. VI is a transverse section .taken on line VI VI, Fig. II, showing the catches for retaining the cage in its normal or horizontal position. Fig. VII is an enlarged detail perspective view of the de- Fig. VIII is an enlargedtransverse section of one of the guide-strips. Fig.1X is an enlarged perspective view of the safety-catches. Fig. X is a detail'perspective view of the car-door. Fig. XI isa' detail edge view showing spiral corrugations on the safety-catches. 3

Referring to the. drawings, 1 represents the guide-strips by which the cage is guided in its passage up or down the shaft, and 2 the shaft-posts. The guide-strips are formed of channel-irons 8, with hard-wood filling 4, suitably joined together. The channel-irons 3 areprovided with brackets 5, having slots 6, in whichbolts 7 engage for the purpose of attaching the guide-strips to the walls of the shaft. (See Fig. VIII.) By means of this slotand-bolt connection the guide-strips may be adjusted in casethe walls of the shaft should become untrue or to compensate for wear, (to. 8 represents asliding frame (formed of I- beams, which .travel up, and down with the cage,) and is guided by the guide'st-rips 1.

This'frame is connected and'braced near its lower end by a cross-beam 0 and at its upper end by a cross-beam 10. Attached to the opposite ends of the beam 10 are brackets 11, having rings 12, to which a chain 1 3' is at tached. I

14 represents the operating or hoisting cable, which is attached to the chain 13, said cable traveling over a pnlleyl5, located on top of a frame 16, whichconnects the upper ends of the guide-strips.-

17 represents the platform of the cage,which is supported by a V-shaped frame 18, which is pivoted'at its lower end at 19 to the sliding frame 8, thus permitting the platform to tilt to either side desired when the same has been released by the mechanism which holds it inits normal position.

20 represents a rail-track on the platform, on which the car 21 is supported. In order to hold the car securely in its place on the platform, I provide circular clam psl22-23, which engage the outer sides'of all fourof the wheels of the car. These clamps are moved in alateral direction by means of racks 24: 25, to which they are attached, there being two racks to operate each clamp, portions of the racks on one side extending over portions of the racks on the other side, as shown in Fig. I, so that they may be operated byinterposed pinions 26 27, located on shafts 28 29, the shafts in turn being operated by hand-levers 3O 31.

As shown in Fig. III, the clamps 22 are thrown open to admit a car, the clamps 23 being set to prevent the car from traveling too far on the platform. After the car has reached the proper position on the platform, the clamps 22 are by the means described thrown into the same position as the clamps 23 and the car locked securely in its place. Of course when the bottom of the shaft is reached, either set or both sets of the clamps maybe thrown open in order for the empty car to be run off the platform and another car placed thereon.

32 represents discharge-chutes into which the coal is dumped from the car. These chutes may be arranged on both sides of the shaft, as shown in Fig. II, in order that the coal may be dumped to either side, as may be desired. The platform 17 is held in its horizontal or normal position by means of spring catches 33, said catches normally engaging in sockets 34; in the sides of the sliding frame 8.

35 represents coil-springs located 011 rounded portions 36 at the rear end of the catches 33 for the purpose of holding them into engagement with the sockets 3t.

37 represents two pairs of bell-crank levers. pivoted at their centers LO brackets 38, secured to the under side of the platform. (See Fig. VI.) The inner end of the levers 37 engage hooked portions 30, said hooked portions being secured to the under sides of the catches 33. The outer ends of the lovers 3? are pivoted to two bars 40 at 41.

42 represents levers pivoted at 4 on the under side of the platform, said levers being pivoted at; about their centers to the bars to and having ends ll, which extend beyond the outer line of the platform. Either one of the. levers elf? by being pressed outward, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. VI, will, through the medium of the bell-crank levers, cause the catches 33 to be withdrawn from their sockets in the sliding frame 8, and thus allow the platform and car to be canted over in order to dump the coal or other material out of the car. It will be noticed that the levers 42 are in duplicate, one being on each side of the platform.

The object of the above is to provide a means for tilting the platform to either side, one of the levers being suflicient to withdraw the catches. The bars 40 are connected to eachother by means of a coil-spring t5. As one of the levers 42 is thrown outward the strain on the bar l0 and the spring 45 will cause the plat-form to be tilted to one side, the tension of the spring causing the lover if. to return to its normal position, as the same has been released by the device that operates it, and thus release the spring-catches 33, so that they will engage in their retaining-sockets as soon as the platform is returned to its normal position.

As the cage ascends the shaft the end M of one of the levers 42 will come in contact with one end 45%01": a bell-crank lever 46,

said bell-crank lever being pivoted to a frame l? at 48 and extending out in the shaft at an angle, so that as the end all of the lever 42 strikes the same, and as the cage is still ascending, the catches 33 will be withdrawn from their sockets and the platform of the cage will be tilted to one side, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. ll. 49 represents the other end of the bell-crank lever 4:6, to which is attached a coil-spring 50, which holds the lever in its normal position, but which permits the end 451}- to be pressed outward as the lever -12 strikes it as the cage descends.

It will be noticed that there are two of the bell-crank levers 46, as shown in Fig. ll, one located on each side of the shaft in orderthat the load may be discharged on either side de 1 When the bell-crank lever i6 is .in the Thus it will be seen that if the lower bellcrank lever were thrown into the position that the upper one is and the upper one thrown into the position that the lower one is the platform would not be tilted until itcame to the upper chute.

51 represents bars by which the lever 416 may be operated.

52 represents a door situated at one end of the car, the door being pivoted by a rod 53 to the upper portion of the car. The door is held closed in its normal position by a bar 54, pivoted to the door at and engaging in a catch 56 011 the door and catches 57 on either side of the door. The bar 54: extends out beyond the line of the car, and as the car is tilted over in order to dump the load the extension of the bar strikes a circular bar 58, and the bar is thus forced out of its catches and the door is permitted to swing open.

representsrubber buffcrs,againstwhich the platform strikes when the load is dumped.

60 represents spring-bolts secured to the frame-work, said bolts extending beyond the framework a short distance in close proximity to the platform.

61 represents legs attached to the under side of the platform. After the load has been dumped and the car is raised still higher the legs (51 will come in contact with the springbolts 00, and the platform will thus be thrown back to its horizontal position. The legs 01 are beveled at their lower ends, as shown at 2, so that as the cage descends the beveled portions will strike the spring-bolts 60, forcing them back out of the way and permitting the cage to descend.

3 represents the safety-catches, of which I have shown four on each side. The catches are journaled at (ii in housings 65, said housings being secured to the sliding frame 8 of the cage. The catches have cam-shaped portions 60, on thefacc of which are spi 'al'shaped corrugations 67. The catches are provided with arms 08, which extend out throughopenings tit! in the housings. represents coilsprings, one of which is attached to the outer ends of each of thearms (38, the other endof the springs being attached to fixed bars 71. The catches travel with the frame 8 on each side of the guide-strips, and are hold while in their normal position out of engagement with the guide-strips; but if the strain should be released from the device by which they are held out of engagement they would by the force of gravity and the coil-springs 70 be forced into engagement with the guide-strips, and as they are cam-shaped and have spiral corrugations on their faces, the greater the downward strain lllldlllOl'O tightly they would grip the guidestrips, and thus hold thecage from falling. In case of a heavy strain and the pivots of the catches should become broken the catches would still perform'theirfunctions, as, owing to the construction of the housings, the catches would be firmly held in their seats as the catches proper bear against the housings. The catches are held in their normal position out of engagement with the guidestrips by means of bars 72, which have slots 73, engaging pins 74 on the outer-ends of each of the arms 68.] The bars 72 are attached at their upper ends to two bifurcated levers 75, these levers each having one of their ends pivoted, as shown at 76, to the upper frame 10 of the cage. The levers 75 are fulcrnmed near their center to a casting which surrounds the frame 10, and to which the hoisting-cable is attached. Incase the cable should break, the casting 77, which is larger than the frame 10, (see Fig. IX,) will fall a slight distance, and in doing so will depress the levers to which it is attached. The levers falling a slight distance will cause the bars 72 to fall a short distance, and in doing so the upper ends of the slots 7 3 will strike the pins 7 at on the arms 68, and thus throw the catches into engagement with the guide-strips. It will be seen that the catches on each side of the cage are independent of the catches on the opposite side, and that if from any cause the catches on one side should not work they would not prevent the catches on the opposite side from working.

I have shown but one platform and car; but by my construction two or more might be used, if desired.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of a sliding frame, a platform pivoted to the frame, mechanism whereby the platform maybe antomatically tilted to either side, mechanism for locking the platform to the frame, and

mechanism for unlocking the platform automatically, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of a sliding frame, platform pivoted to the frame, means for locking the platform to the frame, means for unlocking the platform automatically, means in connection therewith for automatically tilting the platform, and means for automatically returning the platform to its normal position, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In a hoisting-cage, the combination of a sliding frame, platform pivoted to the frame, spring-catches 33 for holding the platform in its normal position, levers 42 for withdrawing the spring-catches, and means for connecting the levers with the spring-catches, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of a pivoted platform, spring-catches 33, engaging in sockets in the platform-support, bell-crank levers engaging the spring-catches, bars 40, pivoted to the bellcrank levers, and levers 42, pivoted to the bars 40, for the purpose of operating the bell-crank levers and thus operating the spring=catches, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of a pivoted platform, levers 42 for withdrawing spring-catches 33 and permitting the platform to tilt, and bell-crank levers 46 for engaging the levers 42, said bell-crank levers causing the levers 42 to be moved laterally, and thus at the same time that the catches are withdrawn tilt the platform to one side, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a hoisting-cage, a bell-crank lever 46, of which one end 45%,; is set at an angle to operate a releasing device on the platform of the cage, the other end 49 having a spring attached thereto for holding it in its normal position and a rod 51 attached thereto for changing the position of the lever, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a hoistingcage, the combination of a sliding frame, platform pivoted to the frame, legs 61, secured to the platform, and springbolts in the shaft-posts for engaging the legs and returning the platform to its normal position after the same has been canted, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a hoisting cage, the combination of a car 21, door 52, pivoted to the car, pivoted bar 54, and catches 56 57 for securing the door in its closed position, and a circular bar 58, against which the bar 54 impinges when the caris tilted, said frame moving the bar out of its retainingcatches and permitting the door to swing open, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of a platform 17, track 20 on the platform, circular clamps 22 23 for engaging the wheels of a car, and means for adjusting said clamps in a lateral direction, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of a platform 17, track 20 on the platform, clamps 22 23, racks 2e 25, connected with the clamps, shafts 28 29, pinions 2G 27 on the shafts for operating the racks, and levers 30 31 for op erating the shafts, substantially as described, andfor the purpose set forth.

ll. Guide-strips for a hoisting-cage, constructed of a channel-bar, aninterp'osed hard wood filling, and brackets secured to the guidestrips, having elongated slots whereby the guide-strip may be adjustably secured to the wall of the shaft, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of the guide-strips, sliding frame guided by the strips, housings on the frame, having openings 69, cam shaped safety-catches in the housings for engaging the guide-strips, having arms (38, and mechanism for connecting. the arms with the hoisting-cable, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

13. The combination of the guide-strips, the sliding frame 8 9 10, having housings 65, formed with openings 69, cam-shaped safetycatohes in the housings, having spiral corru; gations on their faces forengagin g the guidestrips and formed with arms 68,1neans for connecting the arms with the hoisting-cable, the arms 71, and the springs 70, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

ll. The combination of the sliding frame 8 9 10, having the housings 65, formed with openings (39, cam-shaped safety-catches pivoted to the housings, formed with arms 68, means for connecting the arms with the hoistin g-eable, and means foroperating the catches when the connections are released, the Walls of said housings forming a bearing for said catches other than their central pivots, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

15. The combination of the guide-strips, the sliding frame 8 D it), having housings U5, safety-catehes (J3, pivoted in said housings, arms OSon the catches, means for connecting the arms with the hoisting'cable, and coilsprings 70, connected with the arms for foreing the catches into engagement with the guide-strips,-substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a hoisting-cage, the combination of the safety-catches U3,arms (58 on the catches, bars Tn, connected with the arms (58 by a pinand slot connection, said bars 7 2 being secured to the pivoted levers 7 5, said levers being in turn secured to a casting T7, to which the hoisting-cable may be attached, the safety-catches being thus held out of engagement, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

AHNER \V. DAVIDSON.

Witnesses:

.lAS. E. KNIGHT, F. G. FISCHER. 

